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Numbers reflect Stults' great pitching for Padres

Numbers reflect Stults' great pitching for Padres

SAN DIEGO -- He doesn't have nearly enough innings to qualify for the National League ERA title, but Eric Stults isn't going to sweat that too much.

As it stands, Stults ranks fifth in the Major Leagues in ERA (2.54) among pitchers with at least 80 innings, but the number the left-hander is focused on is much different.

"I'm not a very big numbers guy as far as ERA," Stults said. "For me, in the games I started, did we win the game?"

More often than not, the Padres have. In the 12 games that Stults has started for the Padres, the team is 8-4, including four consecutive victories.

"That tells me a lot about the way we're playing," Stults said. "And in the second half, I feel as if we've had a lot of quality starts."

Stults missed 41 games earlier this season with a strained left lat muscle, otherwise there's no knowing how he would have fared and where he might have fit on that ERA list.

As it stands, Stults' performance rates as exceptional in the book of his manager.

"Both before and after the strain, he's thrown the ball well," said Padres manager Bud Black. "He's been consistent as far as each and every start. There hasn't been a variance in stuff. That's the beauty of how he's throwing, the consistency.

"I don't have to worry about him and what he's going to bring each and every start."

Stults will make his next start on Tuesday in Arizona against the D-backs.